-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Before super yachts , luxury sailboats and passenger ferries , the preferred method of water travel was by steamboat .

Until the first steamboat was built in the late 1700s , boats were powered by wind and sail . Since steamboats did n't depend as much on wind direction and currents , they offered more control .

Steam engines function similarly to a tea kettle on a stove , says Matthew Schulte , executive director of the Steamship Historical Society of America . Water is heated to a boil , creating steam that 's controlled under pressure . The steam is then released , mechanically powering the vessel and getting the engine moving .

By the mid-19th century , steamboats became a popular mode of transportation in America , Schulte said .

`` The rivers , lakes and oceans could serve as a network of transportation long before trails , railroads and highways could accommodate the masses , '' said Schulte .

While steam and sail boats operated simultaneously into the early 1900s , steamboats remained dominant into the mid-20th century , when ships powered by diesel engines started to become mainstream . Because of their immense size and weight , and the large crew necessary to operate them , steamboats were much more expensive to operate than ships powered by smaller , lighter , modern diesel engines .

With steamboats , `` You can see , smell and hear what 's happening , and then understand why they work just from going on one , '' Schulte said . `` The Belle of Louisville turns 100 this year , which offers a great opportunity for people to participate . ''

Here are seven steamboats -- including the Belle -- that visitors can still enjoy in the United States . Some are old , some are new and one offers more fun beyond sightseeing .

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Belle of Louisville , Kentucky

Celebrating its 100th birthday in October , Kentucky 's Belle of Louisville , located in the town for which it was named , is one of the oldest operating steamboats in the world . The boat still has its original steam engines , and no modern navigation equipment . It 's propelled by paddle wheel , operating as it did 100 years ago .

When the boat was built in Pittsburgh , it was designed as a ferry and freight vessel but outfitted for passengers for its later use as an excursion boat .

During its lifetime , seven million people have traveled on the 200-foot-long Belle . It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1989 .

Celebrate at the Centennial Festival of Riverboats in Louisville from October 14-19 . The festival will include six days of festivities on the water and on land , with a showcase of food and beverages , children 's educational areas , concerts and fireworks .

Katahdin , Maine

In the 1800s , steamboats were abundant on Moosehead Lake in Greenville , Maine . But by the 1930 's , the Katahdin was the only one left on the lake . Built in 1914 , Katahdin is another steamboat celebrating its 100th birthday this year .

In the 1920s , Northern Maine was a popular vacation spot for visitors from Philadelphia , New York and Boston desperate to escape the summer heat and pollution . With the stock market crash in 1929 , the leisure travel industry declined , as did lake transportation on Moosehead . A decade later , Katahdin 's new purpose was hauling logs along the river . It was used that way until 1975 , when it participated in the nation 's last log drive . It was added to the National Register of Historic Places three years later .

The Moosehead Marine Museum acquired Katahdin several years after the museum 's founding in 1976 . In 2010 , the museum raised more than $ 1 million to restore the Katahdin and rebuild its wharf . In the summer and fall of 2013 , more than 7,000 passengers cruised the lake on the Katahdin , enjoying a ride on a piece of maritime history .

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Minnehaha , Minnesota

The steamboat Minnehaha was launched in 1906 to ferry residents from across Lake Minnetonka to the town of the same name , where streetcars sat waiting as land transportation . The Minnehaha was also used by people wanting a tour of the lake , and it remained a popular means of transportation for both groups until the late 1920s , when steamboats began to fade away .

Although it cruises the same water today , the Minnehaha spent decades on the bottom of the lake . The steamboat sank in 1926 and was n't raised until 1980 . Ten years after Minnehaha was brought to the surface , the restoration began and was completed in 1996 . The wood hull was rebuilt because of damage caused by spending a decade on land , and the original boiler that burned coal was converted to a model that burns fuel . While the ship 's engine is n't the original one , it dates back to the late 1930s .

African Queen , Florida

Perhaps the most famous steamboat still in operation , Florida 's African Queen starred alongside Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn in the 1951 film of the same name . The boat was built in 1912 in Lytham , England , for use by the East Africa British Railways Company . It originally carried cargo , hunting parties and missionaries along the Victoria Nile and Lake Albert , on the border of Congo and Uganda .

The boat continued to operate in Africa until 1968 when it was brought to the United States , working in San Francisco , Oregon and finally in Florida . The African Queen has been in Key Largo since 1982 , providing cruises for visitors wanting a ride on the famous boat .

Sabino , Connecticut

Mystic , Connecticut 's Sabino is believed to be the oldest wooden , coal-fired steamboat still operating in the United States . Built in 1908 in East Boothbay , Maine , the Sabino was originally named the Tourist , carrying freight and passengers in Maine 's waters .

After a private restoration , the Sabino was purchased in 1974 for use as a working exhibit at the Mystic Seaport museum .

The Sabino still has the two-cylinder steam engine that was installed in 1908 , carrying passengers on daily cruises along the Mystic River . The Sabino is a `` bell boat , '' with control of the engine handled directly by the engineer who receives orders from the captain via bell . One ring means forward , two mean reverse .

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American Empress , Washington

The youngest steamboat on the list , Washington 's American Empress was launched this past April . The ship was actually built in 2003 , cruising Alaska as the Empress of the North for five years . The boat remained out of service until it was purchased and renamed by the American Queen Steamboat Company in 2013 .

Ports and excursions on the multi-day cruises along the Columbia and Snake Rivers include Sacajawea State Park , the Walla Walla wine trail , Mount St. Helens and numerous stops in Oregon . Cruises often feature a `` riverlorian '' to share the history and culture of the region with curious visitors .

Miss Belterra Riverboat Casino , Indiana

If it 's a roll of the dice or slots you seek rather than just sightseeing , Florence , Indiana 's Miss Belterra might be the boat for you . Opened in 2000 , Las Vegas casino-inspired and design and dÃ © cor elements grace the interior , with the exterior resembling classic riverboats of the 1800s .

Miss Belterra is 370 feet long and features 38,000 square feet of game tables and slots on two of its decks . The boat holds about 3,000 people and offers the sounds and atmosphere of a land-locked casino . Although gambling laws no longer require Miss Belterra to leave port , guests can still enjoy the historic feel and thrill of gambling on the water .

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Once a popular form of transportation , few steamboats cruise the waters today

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Kentucky 's Belle of Louisville and Maine 's Katahdin celebrate big birthdays this year

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There are newer steamboats , including the American Empress and Miss Belterra